HAWERA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3226, 13 September 1879, Page 2

HAWERA.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' September 1). — I refrained from writing to you during the elections, as I thought yotir columns would bo pretty vrcll taken up. While on this topic I might say that this part of tho district is very much pleased at the return of Messrs. Kelly and Trimble at your end, and Major Atkinson for this, as we are sure they will work well together for the good of both your end and this. Colonel Trimble is untried in colonial politics at present, but he may bo sure that his career will be watched with greater interest here than even by that of his own constituents. We prodict for him a leading position in the House before many sessions are over.

My attention has been called to a most serious matter, which nffocts your district/. <it large, and that is the amount of seal) on confiscated land between this and Okato. One party who had lately taken sheep round the coast told me that tho whole country is infested with this disease, and that he had never seen, in a long experience, sheep so foul with scab as at Bishop's, at tho Harriet Beach. I need not point out how injurious this is to all sheep roared in these counties, particularly yours, as sheep travelling from here throngh this infested district are bound to carry the insect on with them, and thus perhaps ruin dozen of farmers, while at this end sottlers cannot got a propor price, as the shippers have to run the risk of their sheo'p, boiug condemned, Mr. McKenzie, our Sheep Inspector, I beliove has represented the matter to the Government, but without any attempt on their part to solve the diiticulty. This is one of the many evils wo arc under by having by name the confiscated land, while in reality the Maoris hold s» strong , possession that the Government can find no menrts of putting a stop to so Berious an evil as I have pointed out above In connection with the elections rather an mistake took place. The Returning QfHcer gazetted the block-house, Hawera, as the polling place, Now as that noble edifico has been pullod down some threo years ago, it wob suggested that ho should atyor the pluco, but, us the law would not pormib it,' ho

instructed hig.dcputy to have a " block-hpnse" erected, Which was accordingly done- by having all the refuse sheets of iron in the town Bcraped together, and a shanty put up. It was great good luck that it did not rain, as the Returning Oflicer (who was very unwell), the scrutineers, and electors would have had a happy time of it, and would have\ been like the man who opened an umbrella, minus the covering, to keep the dampness °i> - __________„